
12
SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON QUARTERLY
in breadth, and the height equal to the width. The holy place
was twice as large as the most holy place.
3.
"The law of God, enshrined within the ark, was the
great rule of righteousness and judgment. That law pro-
nounced death upon the transgressor; but above the law was
the mercy seat, upon which the presence of God was revealed,
and from which, by virtue of the atonement, pardon was
granted to the repentant sinner. Thus in the work of Christ
for our redemption, symbolized by the sanctuary service, 'mercy
and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have
kissed each other.' "—"Patriarchs and Prophets," page 349.
4.
"No language can describe the glory of the scene pre-
sented within the sanctuary,—the gold-plated walls reflecting
the light from the golden candlestick, the brilliant hues of the
richly embroidered curtains with their shining angels, the
table, and the altar of incense, glittering with gold; beyond
the second veil the sacred ark, with its mystic cherubim, and
above it the holy Shekinah, the visible manifestation of Je-
hovah's presence; all but a dim reflection of the glories of the
temple of God in heaven, the great center of the work for
man's redemption."—Id., page 349.
5.
"The daily service consisted of the morning and evening
burnt offering, the offering of the sweet incense on the golden
and the special offerings for individual sins. And there
were also offerings for sabbaths, new moons, and special feasts.
"Every morning and evening a 'lamb of a year old was
burned upon the altar, with its appropriate meat offering,
thus symbolizing the daily consecration of the nation to Je-
hovah, and their constant dependence upon the atoning blood
of Christ. God expressly directed that every offering pre-
sented for the service of the sanctuary should be 'without
blemish.' The priests were to examine all animals brought
as a sacrifice, and were to reject every one in which a defect
was discovered. Only an offering 'without blemish' could be
a symbol of His perfect purity who was to offer Himself as
`a lamb without blemish and without spot.' The apostle Paul
points to these sacrifices as an illustration of what the fol-
lowers of Christ are to become. He says, 'I beseech you there-
fore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is
your reasonable service.' We are to give ourselves to the
service of God, and we should seek to make the offering as
nearly perfect as possible. God will not be pleased with any-
thing less than the best we can offer. Those who love Him
with all the heart, will desire to give Him the best service of
the life, and they will be constantly seeking to bring every
power of their being into harmony with the laws that will
promote their ability to do His will."—Id., pages 352, 353.